The solo around the world yacht race and other sailing related items.
Canada and my granddaughter
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Darlene and I had a memorable flight to Canada. Our pilots pointed out Niagara Falls on the approach into Toronto. It was spectacular. I cannot imagine why some folks would risk their lives to go over the falls in a barrel. In early late winter of 1998, I was invited to Toronto by Derek Hatfield, a fellow solo sailor to participate in the Toronto Boat Show. I flew in to Buffalo and a friend of ours drove me across the boarder. It was the first time I saw Niagara Falls. It is impressive, no matter what the angle.
Thursday morning I spoke at another insurance event that involved the IT managers at insurance companies from around the world. South Africa was well represented. That evening a friend in Toronto threw a special dinner for us at an art gallery. Between the five courses, when not eating we were laughing. The hosts lived in a converted warehouse that had the art gallery and kitchen and living quarters in the loft. The collection of work on display was perfect. They show emerging artists only.
The dinner guests were amazing. We met Lisa in Brazil at the Youth Summit where she was the photographer. Another photographer friend who did nudes was a quiet unassuming guest, who had just finished working and brought his subject to dinner. She was a former model and now TV personality and had never done nude work before. This was tremendous growth for her and her pulse quickened just talking about the shoot. An actress came with her husband who was a former Olympian water polo player, and we were joined by an executive from the Cartoon Network and her date who marketed video games. Then there was our host who prepared fabulous course after course.
After a hectic conference in Toronto last week where I, Darlene and I flew to Delaware to spend the rest of the weekend with our family. Rick has become used to us dropping in on short notice, especially now that we have a granddaughter. Shelby Grace has already lived a hectic life in her seven months. At two months old she came sailing with us in the Caribbean before heading to a wedding in Mexico. She has visited Tapawingo, our SC home. With two front teeth she is not shy of smiles. I have come to love being a grandfather. Darlene is known as Ouma, after my paternal grandmother, and I as Oupa. Shelby loves to be read to, and as you can see, I am reading Joshua Slocum’s, Sailing alone around the world.
